Referee, Two Linesmen Retire From NHL

Published 8:00 pm, Tuesday, July 1, 2003

Longtime referee Paul Stewart retired from the NHL on Wednesday.

Stewart, 48, was the first U.S.-born former NHL player to become an NHL referee. He worked his first game on March 27, 1987, and last season became the first American-born referee to work 1,000 regular-season games.

Linesmen Gerard Gauthier and Wayne Bonney also announced their retirements on Wednesday.

Stewart beat colon cancer in 1998 and returned to work less than nine months after being diagnosed and five months after undergoing surgery. He was the referee for his 1,000th career game last March 15 in Boston.

Gauthier, 54, worked the first of his 2,345 regular-season games on October 16, 1971. He also handled 244 playoff games and was an official in six Stanley Cup finals.

Bonney, 50, first officiated an NHL regular-season game on October, 10, 1979. He worked 1,658 regular-season games and 228 playoff games, including five appearances in the finals.

"These men gave the league dedicated and distinguished service," said Andy Van Hellemond, the NHL director of officiating. "We thank them for their outstanding work and wish them only good things in the future."